Apparatus for embalming bodies



April 8, 1941.

M. D. RIKER APPARATUS FOR EMBALMING BODIES Filed June 50,- 1938 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. fife/c 0/07 ,2 F/fier ATTORNEY.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M. D. RIKER APPARATUS FOR EMBALMING BODIES Filed June50, 1938 April 8, 1941.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 8, 1941 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFME 5 Claims.

This invention relates to embalming apparatus, the object being toprovide a new and improved means both for embalming and aspirating abody.

A feature of the invention is involved in the mechanism by whichembalming fluid may be introduced under constant pressure into the veinsand arteries of a body and by means of which the body may be aspirated.

In the embalming of a body, the apparatus is arranged to inject liquidunder pressure into the arteries, veins and capillaries (hereinaftertermed the circulatory system) for which purpose a drainage at a pointin the circulatory system distant from the point of injection isprovided. Heretofore, it has been common practice to pump air on aliquid body in a container to produce pressure for forcing the liquidinto the veins and arteries and this former method has been usedprincipally to prevent the hands of the operator coming in contact withthe embalming fluid.

By my improved apparatus, any possible contamination of the hands of theoperator by the embalming fluid is avoided as the mechanism pumps theliquid directly to the body under constant pressure, and a feature ofthe invention resides in the construction of a pump whereby apredeterminable pressure only can be produced thereby.

A further feature of the invention is involved in the pump constructionadapting it for use in aspirating the body-that is, in withdrawing thebody fluids therefrom. In so utilizing the pump, a vacuum bottle isprovided having a tube directly connected with the body and another tubeleading to the pump by means of which a vacuum is produced in the bottleand, under such condition and by reason of the embalming fluidsremaining in the pump at the completion of injection, the pump is liquidpacked permitting it to operate successfully to produce a vacuum in thevacuum bottle.

It is therefore a main feature and object. of the invention to providean apparatus of such character of construction as to adapt it forpumping liquids or gases, or both, and to thus enable it to function toinject liquid under pressure into the circulatory system or to subjectthe organs of the body to a reduction in pressure by withdrawal ofliquids and gases in which operation the pump is so constructed that asmall amount of liquid is circulated in the pump to pack the same as ishereinafter more fully described.

These and other objects and novel features of the invention arehereinafter more fully described and claimed, and the preferred form ofconstruc tion of an apparatus embodying my invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 shows my improved apparatus infull lines as adapted for injection of the embalming fluid into thecirculatory system of a body, the dotted line portion of the drawingindicating the re-arrangement of the parts for use in aspirating thebody.

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 of thetank for the embalming fluid and manner of connection of intake line ofthe pump thereto by which the pump may be primed by gravity.

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional elevation of the pump taken on line 33 ofFig. 4.

Fig 4 is an elevation partly in section taken on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail in section of the check valve arrangement used on thedome of the pump.

Fig. 5a is a sectional detail of an outlet conduit for the air chamber.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the pump taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 3.

In its preferred form as here shown, the apparatus comprises a pumpingmechanism shown in elevation at the left of Fig. 1. This includes a pumpcasing I and on. the shaft 2! 0f the pump is a flywheel 2. The pumpcasing has a base portion 3 secured to a foundation t preferablyprovided with rubber feet 5 and having an upstanding rim 6 for a purposehereinafter described.

The pump casing is provided with a lug l on which is a pivoted arm 23secured to a bracket it which suspends an electric motor it. On theshaft of the motor on the side opposite that shown in Fig. 1, is arubber or friction pulley ll indicated by dotted lines, which engagesthe flywheel rim. The pivot point of the bracket 6 is in a verticalplane inwardly of the point of contact of the pulley H with the flywheel2 and thus the motor hangs by action of gravity with a certain pressurecontact of its pulley with the flywheel 2 The motor is provided with aflexible conduit [2 through which the current supply is provided. Therubber pulley l l is simply a sleeve sufficiently less in diameter thanthe shaft to be in frictional engagement. Thus at certain high pressuredeveloped by the pump, either the sleeve will slip on the shaft or themotor swing on its bracket. The pump, however, as hereinafter stated, isso constructed that only a predetermined liquid pressure may beattained.

The pump proper comprises a chamber formed within the cylindrical memberl5 having a threaded flange I6 for engagement in the portion of the pumpll having a similar threaded flange. The flange [5 on its inner leftside face in Fig. 3 engages a packing ring 18, the thickness of whichmay be varied to provide a predetermined width of space between theinner face of the member l5 and the opposite face of the member H. Inthis space is a rotor I9 having the radial blades which are springpressed to engage the periphery of the flange it. The width of theblades is less than the width of the space between the inner face of themember I5 and the opposing face of the member II. By varying thethickness 1 of the packing ring, a predetermined slippage is securedthus producing a pump for discharging fluids at a predeterminedpressure. The rotor I9 is secured to the shaft 2! on which is theflywheel 2 driven by the pulley or sleeve H on the motor shaft.

It will be noted from Figs. 4 and 5, that there are a series ofapertures 22 opening through the wall I! and a similar series ofapertures 23 opening through the said wall and that the axes of theseapertures are at about the periphery of the rotor element 19. The memberI! of the pump casting I is spaced from a parallel wall 24 and in thesaid space is a dividing wall 25 (see Fig. 6) which extends to the hubin which the shaft 2| is mounted. This wall 25 extends to opposite sidesof the hub and at the lower end, as shown in Fig. 6, is formed with anaperture 25 which is controlled by a valve member here shown as apointed screw 21. There is also a radial rib 28 at a right angle to thewall 25 and extending to the hub thus providing a chamber 29 between thewall 28 and 26 to which the inlet apertures 23 of the pump open. Whilethe apertures 22 and 23 have their axes at about the periphery of theelement [9 due to the fact that said element is predeterminedly spacedfrom the rear wall I? of the pump casing, the apertures may receive flowof fluid throughout the whole cross sectional area thereof.

It is to be noted that the rotor I9 is eccentric to the axis of theinner surface of the flange I6 of the pump chamber and as the bladesrotate, fluid is drawn into the pump through the apertures 23 and isdischarged through the apertures 22 to the opposite side of the wall 25which forms one wall of the pressure channel 30. The pump casing, it isnoted, extends upwardly from the periphery of the pump to form twochannels 38 and 3! and is flanged at 32 at the upper end to receive aglass cylinder 33.

The cylinder 33 is secured to the member 32 by the screws 34 by means ofwhich the cap member 35 holds the glass cylinder in place and provides adome for the pump. The wall 25 terminates in alignment with thesupporting base in the member 32 for the glass cylinder and there arethus two channels formed, the channels 38 and 3|, both of which are opento the glass cyl inder or dome. The cap member 35 for the cylinder isprovided with a spring seated ball valve indicated at 36 in Fig. 5 andthus in the pumping operation, air is trapped in the cylinder and theliquid passes through the aperture 31 to the outlet line I3. The inletchamber 29 of the pump opens to an extension 38 at the base of the pumpto which the intake line I4 is connected. Also mounted on the pumpcasing and open to the channel 3| is a gauge element 39 for actuation byliquid pressure. In operation of the pump for injection of embalmingfluid under pressure to the body, the valve 2! is closed. In operationof the pump for producing suction as in aspirating a body, the valve 21is opened to a greater or less degree.

One of the features of this invention resides in the provision of meansfor priming the pump by gravity. This is accomplished in the followingmanner:

It is to be understood that the embalming liquid is taken from a tank 40and that the level of liquid is at about the dotted line a in Fig. 1.Below this line, I have provided an aperture 4| in the side wall of thepump through which a conduit like element 42 extends and is threaded toreceive a nut 44, a packing ring 45 being provided between the nut andthe wall of the conduit 40.

A similar packing ring 46 is provided on the opposite side of the walland is engaged by a hub 41 on the member 42. Thus, by tightening the nut45, a leakproof connection between the tube 42 and the tank wall isprovided. On the inner end of the tube 42 is a conduit member 48 and tothe outer end of the member is connected the intake conduit l4 for thepump. In the full line position of the parts shown, the conduit, whichis a normally open conduit, fills with liquid under pressure which flowsto the pump, the center line of the pump being below the axis of theaperture 4| in the tank. The member 42 is revoluble in the aperture sothat the depending conduit 48 of the intake line may be turned toupright position as shown by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2, it beingunderstood that the conduit I4 is preferably rubher, and thereforeflexible in character, will permit rotation of the members 42 and 48.

When the pump is operated for forcing the embalming fluid into thecirculatory system of a body, the valve 2'! is closed and the pump,which at the start of operation does not contain liquid, is primed byturning the member 48 from the dotted line position to the positionshown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2 and this is its position in thesucceeding operation. The pump is then started and liquid is drawnthrough the conduit I4 and the ports 23 into the channel 38 and chamber29.

By rotation of the blades, the liquid is discharged through the ports 22into the channel 30 and thence to the chamber provided by the dome 33which will compress air in the top part of the said dome and the liquidwill pass out through the channel 3| to the outlet aperture 3'! to linel3 which, at its discharge end, is understood to be open to an artery ofa body. The air trapped at the top of the dome will provide for an evenand constant pressure of the liquid passing to the body and any air thatmay be in the suction line is trapped in the dome 35 and liquid onlypassed to the body. It is pointed out that the dome is normally closedby the check valve 35 during the pumping of liquid into the body andusually three or four pounds pressure is used but the pressure may behigher if occasion demands. This pressure is shown on the gauge 39 whichopens to the chamber 31 as will be understood from Fig. 6.

Subsequent to forcing liquid under pressure into the circulatory systemof a body, it is desired to withdraw liquids and gases from the stomachor other organs of the body containing liquid or, as it is termed, toaspirate the body. For this purpose, the intake line I4 has connectedthereto an extension 5| and included with the extension is a check valvewhich is opened by pump suction and closed by a spring 52. The end ofthe dlschargeline I3 is merely placed in the tank such as the tank 40 toreceive any liquids that may be dispelled from the air chamher.

It is important that the valve 27 be opened slightly during theaspirating process to maintain a liquid packing for the pump. There willbe a Constant flow of liquid through the pump sufiicient to close allclearance at the top of the rotor l9 and this liquid, because ofcentrifugal force, will constantly hug the periphery of the cylinder.pump will therefore be forced to the inside or at the surface of therotor and between the blades and will be adjacent to ports 22 whencompression is complete anddischarge is effected.

In operation of the device, under the above stated conditions, inaspirating bodies and Withdrawal of the liquids and gases from theorgans of the body, the gases will pass off through the open check valveand into a conduit of preferably flexible character indicated at 56 inFig. 5 and this may lead to any convenient receptacle. It is pointed outthat in the operation of the device, the aspirating step is subsequentto the injection of fluid, such as formaldehyde, and as the injection offormaldehyde has been completed there remains in the pump some of theembalming liquid. This liquid not only acts in a manner to pack the pumpso that it may be effective in Withdrawing the gases but it is alsopointed out that the gases are discharged through the formaldehyde tothe outlet conduit and thus are sterilized and the odors entirelyremoved therefrom. The operator therefore is not annoyed by the odors ofgases removed from the body and the check valve 5! in the intake conduitM, as previously stated, acts to prevent back flow of liquid or gasesfrom the pump during the period of aspiration.

A container 60, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, may be employed betweenthe intake conduit of the pump which leads thereto on one side and anextension conduit ti which leads from the trocar introduced into thecirculatory system and discharges to the container 60. This arrangementwill avoid the possible drawing of the liquid from the body into thepump system.

By means of the open receptacle 40 in the operation of the apparatus toinject embalming liquid, a further desirable result is attained.

In the embalming of the body, the liquid first injected is more diluteand of less strength than that desired to be subsequently dischargedinto the circulatory system. If the liquid were full strength in thebeginning of the operation, the walls of the veins or capillaries areapt to become seared and thus tend to choke the flow as they would nolonger expand and permit blood clots to be forced therethrough. Bystarting with a diluted embalming liquid and by means of an open vessel,the strength of the solution may be increased from time to time or thechem ical mix changed without stopping the injection or removal of thetubes from the body but after the veins have been practically filledwith embalming fluid then the strength of the solution may be soincreased as to harden and preserve the tissues to the degree desired.The difficulties encountered by apparatus heretofore known to me aretherefore avoided by the apparatus herein disclosed.

I take advantage of the open top container 40 in another way and thatis, by making the base 6 to fit the interior of the open end of thecontainer which, when empty, may be passed'over Any gases passingthrough the the apparatus with the open end seating about the base 6thus providing the entire apparatus in a single package.

From the foregoing description, it is believed evident that theapparatus is of comparatively simple construction and is highly emcientin operation, particularly in comparison to the previous known apparatusin which air is pumped onto the embalming liquid in a container to forceit into a body in the injection of the embalming fluid. The liability ofthe hands of the attendant coming in contact with embalming fluid isalsoreduced to a minimum. Further-- more, the pressure is maintainedconstant under continuous flow at given speed of pump and thus insuringa steady pressure in the injection of the embalming fluid and Withoutpossibility of injection of air. This is important in view of the factthat if air pockets existed in the liquid flowing in the conduit 13during the embalming, the air will form a pocket or pockets and providean obstruction to flow of the embalming fluid.

It is believed, therefore, that the various objects and features of theinvention are attained by the arrangement and construction of theapparatus described.

Having thus fully described my invention. its utility and mode ofoperation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. In apparatus for the injection of embalming fluid into thecirculatory system of a body, a pump having an inlet and an outlet, anair dome, having openings in its bottom and forming part of the outlet,2. tube having an end connected with the inlet, a receptacle for liquidwith which the opposite end of the inlet tube is connected, and a tubeconnected at one end with the outlet and to the circulatory system atthe other, the arrangement providing that, in operation of the pump, theliquid is forced into the dome compressing air in the upper part thereofand is thereafter discharged directly through the outlet beneath theair, and means providing for a predetermined slippage in the pump tothereby provide a discharge pressure not materially differing from thepressure required to overcome the resistance of the circulatory systemto flow of fluid thereinto.

2. In apparatus for the injection of embalming fluid to the circulatorysystem of a body, a pump constant speed having an inlet and an outlet,an air dome therebetween opening at its bottom to both the inlet and theoutlet, 2. tube open to the inlet at one end, an open receptacle for theembalming fluid in which the opposite end of the inlet tube isconnected, and a discharge tube opening at one end to the outlet and atthe other end to the circulatory system and providing an arrangement ofparts for continuously supplying fluid to the circulatory system under asubstantially constant pressure, the open receptacle permittingreplenishment of the liquid during the embalming operation withoutcessation of the injection of liquid, and means providing for variationin the volume of fluid discharged from the pump per unit of time withoutvariation in its speed of operation to thereby provide for discharge offluid from the pump at a predeterminable pressure.

3. In apparatus for the injection of embalming fiuid to the circulatorysystem of a body, a rotary pump having an inlet connected with a sourceof fluid supply and an outlet open to the circulatory system at a pointdistant from a drainage point therefor, an air dome in the outlet havingopenings in its bottom and forming part of the discharge conduit, thefluid being discharged by the pump to the air dome and thence to thebody and thereby pocketing air in the said air dome and beneath whichpocketed air the fluid is discharged through the outlet conduit, valvemeans for discharging air from the air dome, said air dome providing ameans whereby any air in the fluid discharged by the pump is separatedtherefrom prior to discharge to the system, and means providing for apredetermined slippage in the pump to thereby predetermine the pressureimposed upon the fluid discharged thereby at certain speed of rotationof the pump.

4. In apparatus for first embalming and then aspirating a body, a pumphaving an intake connectible with a source of supply of embalming fluidand an outlet connectible with the circulatory system of the body, an,electric motor for operating the pump wherein the embalming fluid isdrawn into the pump and discharged through the outlet under pressure, awall within the pump between the inlet and outlet having an opening, avalve for closing the opening during the embalming operation andoperable to provide a fixed area of opening when aspirating the body andthereby providing for a predetermined flow of fluid from the outlet tothe inlet, the inlet conduit during aspiration of the body beingconnectible with a vacuum bottle for withdrawing fluid and gases fromthe organs of the body and the said outlet being closed, the embalmingfluid remaining in the pump subsequent to the embalming operationproviding a liquid packing for the pump during the aspirating operation.

5. In embalming apparatus, means for removing gases and liquids from.the organs of a body comprising a rotary pump and an inlet chamber eachhaving openings through the pump casing on one side, there being a wallin said chamber between the inlet and the outlet and having an aperture,a valve for varying the area of the opening of the aperture, the outletopenings being positioned at approximately the periphery of the rotorand the said rotor being predeterminedly spaced from the said wall, saidpump having a quantity of embalming liquid therein which is passed fromthe outlet to the inlet by operation of the pump to thereby maintain thepump liquid packed and adapting the pump to exhaust liquids and gasesfrom the organs of the body being aspirated, a vacuum bottle, an intakeconduit connected with the inlet openings of the pump and leading to theVacuum bottle and a conduit leading from the vacuum bottle to the bodywhereby the liquids are discharged into the said vacuum bottle and thegases pass to the intake of the pump, an air dome to which the outlet ofthe pump opens, said dome having a normally closed check valve in itsupper part, and a conduit connectible therewith tending to hold thevalve open for discharge of gases, the gases being sterilized anddeodorized by passing through the embalming fluid maintained in the pumpfor packing purposes.

MALCOLM D. RIKER.

